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Diabetes Facts & Worksheets

Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes in short, is a classification of metabolic disorders marked by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time.

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Diabetes mellitus, or diabetes in short, is a classification of metabolic disorders marked by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Common symptoms are excessive thirst frequent urination, and increased hunger.

See the fact file below for more information on the diabetes or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Diabetes worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • An Egyptian manuscript discovered from the 1500 BCE first held the description of diabetes. The description given to the disease was “too great emptying of the urine.”
  • Indian physicians called it “honey urine” because it would usually attract ants.
  • It was Apollonius of Memphis who first coined the term “diabetes” in 230 BCE.
  • “Diabetes” is a Latin term meaning “to pass through.”
  • Greek physician Galen of the Roman Empire named the disease “diarrhea of the urine.”
  • Aretaeus of Cappadocia referred to moisture and coldness being the causes of the disease.
  • Two different types of diabetes were linked by Indian physicians to youth for one type and being overweight for the other.
  • In the 1700s, there became a need to separate diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.
  • Thomas Willis added the term “mellitus” which means “from honey” because excess sugar had been found in the blood and urine of those who had the disease.
  • It was not until the 20th century when treatment was developed by Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Herbert Best.
  • Banting and Best separated and purified insulin in the 1920s which was developed into insulin NPH in the 1940s.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

  • A blood test will confirm whether a person has diabetes or not.
  • Common symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, and unprecedented weight loss at the same time.
  • Increased thirst is called polydipsia.
  • Increased urination is called polyuria.
  • Increased hunger is called polyphagia.
  • People who have untreated diabetes may also experience losing a lot of weight or being overly tired.
  • Other symptoms include slow healing of wounds, blurred vision, and itchy skin.
  • The blurred vision is caused when high blood sugar levels in the body cause glucose absorption in the lens of the eye.
  • Diabetic retinopathy may occur in which long-term vision loss is developed.
  • There may also be diabetic dermadromes which are skin rashes.
  • The rate of development of these symptoms is different between the two types of diabetes.

TYPE 1 DIABETES

  • Type 1 diabetes is also referred to as juvenile diabetes.
  • This type is characterized by the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone required to allow glucose to enter cells.
  • Glucose is needed to produce energy.
  • People who have type 1 diabetes need to take artificial insulin to survive.
  • People with type 1 diabetes usually experience episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, which manifests through abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is common in people with type 1 diabetes.
  • The onset of type 1 is sudden. Although it may occur at any age, the onset often starts at a young age.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

  • Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes.
  • It is characterized by the body failing to respond effectively to insulin.
  • The body is still able to make insulin, but insulin secretion may be reduced.
  • Obesity is strongly related to type 2 diabetes.
  • Genetics as well as a lifestyle characterized by stress, lack of physical activity, and poor diet have been known to contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes.
  • The onset of the disease happens gradually.

OTHER TYPES

  • Some women may experience gestational diabetes during pregnancy which makes their bodies less sensitive to insulin.
  • Gestational diabetes often ends after giving birth.
  • Other types of diabetes are cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (diabetes developed by people with cystic fibrosis) and monogenic diabetes (diabetes caused by single gene mutations).

PREDIABETES

  • Prediabetes is the diagnosis given to individuals who have a glucose level higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes.
  • People with prediabetes is at risk to develop type 2 diabetes.

COMPLICATIONS

  • When a person has a high level of blood sugar (glucose), his or her eyes, kidneys, and nerves may be damaged over time.
  • Further complications include developing heart disease, having a stroke, or being required to remove a body part like a limb.

DISEASE MANAGEMENT

  • Monitoring blood sugar level is important in managing this disease.
  • Taking medicine, exercising, and managing weight, and having a healthy diet are also very important.
  • A type of blood test called A1C is used by people with type 2 diabetes (and prediabetes) in order to check on how a person is managing his or her diabetes.
  • A1C measures a person’s average blood sugar level over the past three months.

Diabetes Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the diabetes across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Diabetes worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the diabetes mellitus, or diabetes in short, which is a classification of metabolic disorders marked by high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. Common symptoms are excessive thirst frequent urination, and increased hunger.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Diabetes Facts
  • Ancient Records
  • Flawed Facts
  • Diabetes Acrostics
  • Differentiating Types
  • Symptom Finder
  • Fill In The Blanks
  • Conversation with a Diabetic
  • Related Diseases
  • Well vs. Unwell
  • Dear Patient

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the leading cause of diabetes?

Most of the time, we do not know why someone gets diabetes. We know that it happens when there is too much sugar in the blood. This is because the pancreas does not make enough insulin. It looks like both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are caused by a mix of things like genes and the environment.

What stops diabetes?

Keeping your weight down and exercising can prevent type 2 diabetes. You can also eat healthy foods and not smoke.

Is diabetes genetic?

If you have a family member with diabetes, you are more likely to get diabetes too. You might also get prediabetes. This is when your blood sugar is high but not high enough to be diabetes. Talk to your doctor about your family’s health history of diabetes.

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Link will appear as Diabetes Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 29, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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